T minus 9 days and counting...

For those of you that I haven't seen in a while or for those of you that don't know me, I've been working in Dublin, Ireland for the past two and half years and have decided to take eight months off and go overland from Istanbul to Jakarta (see above for the route).The last time I was away (as in away-away, not holiday-away) was South America for eight months, two and a half years ago (click here for that blog), so I'm well due a little odysee.

So... Why Asia, I hear you ask! (The internal monologue begins...). Well, I had a couple of routes in mind for the next time I go away:I would have quite liked to fly back to Colombia and pick up where I left off on my last trip by continuing up into central America, maybe finishing up in San Fran (I'd be quite attracted to Panama, Nicuragua, Guatamala and Mexico). However, as much as I enjoyed South America, I thought that this time around, I needed something kind of different (perhaps more challenging).

Similarly I was considering a sojourn in the Middle East and Africa, perhaps from Istanbul to Madrid, down through the Arabian peninsula, the horn of Africa, crossing central Africa, up the West African coast and back into the good ol' EU through Gibraltar. The opposite argument applied here: Perhaps this was a little too ambitious, travelling in Africa is a different ball-game... there ain't an established gringo trail (not that that's what I'm looking for, but sometimes the familiarity of it can be comforting).

So, I decided in the end for Istanbul to Jakarta... This should bring me through some combination of the following countries: Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.Here are some reasons for the choice of route:

• Good combination of 'gringo trail' countries (i.e. India/SE Asia) and more unexplored countries (Iran/Pakistan/Burma).
• Like the food (food expectations, in order of travel, are: Kebabs, kebabs, kebabs, curries, curries and curries)
• Don't speak the lingo (a challenge I didn't have in South America)
• Weather
• East-West contrast (Istanbul as the gateway - plan to touch the western side of the Bosphorous with my foot to mark 'point de depart')
• Sociopolitical importance of Iran
• Religious variety: Islam, Hindu, Buddhism etc.
• Beaches
• Variety of climate/landscape
• China, India as BRICS

That's all that I can think of for now...So, I'm still in Dublin... All I've done so far in preparation is (1) got an iranian visa and (2) quit my job. Haven't booked a flight yet but I'm hoping I can get a one-way to Istanbul for the 28th of July (i.e. in nine days). Passport is currently with unfriendliest person in the history of humanity in the pakistani embassy getting visa'ed... Due for collection on tuesday and then straight to Indian Embassy for sooper dooper express visa.Will update on preparation during the week.

Peace Out.

Conor